A PENSIONER who sent offensive messages to his “on-off” partner has been ordered to be of good behaviour for the next six months at Jedburgh Sheriff Court.

Sixty-eight-year-old Roderick Kennedy pleaded guilty to sending offensive and unwanted messages of a sexual nature to the woman at a property in Woodside Gardens, Kelso, on May 17.

Bruce McCrossan, prosecuting, said the couple had an on/off relationship for the past 40 years and they had three children together who are now adults.

He explained at 12.40pm the woman was alone in her home when she started receiving text messages from Kennedy which turned into a sexual nature.

She replied to him to say do not send text messages like that again and police were contacted.

But defence lawyer Liam Alexander said his client could point to 45 voicemails he had received from the woman and that he had sent his messages in “retaliation” and was now suffering the consequences.

Sheriff Peter Paterson accepted there had been a degree of provocation.

He told Kennedy that if he was of good behaviour for the next six months he would be admonished when the case recalls on February 12.